Balancing and ambulating exercising device



April 15; 1969 A. P. MODLA 3,438,525

BALANCING AND AMBULATING EXERCISING DEVICE Filed Sept. 9, 1966 Fig. 2

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Andrew Paul Mod/a INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,438,626 BALANCING AND AMBULATING EXERCISING DEVICE Andrew Paul Modla, 223 W. Union St., Nanticoke, Pa. 18634 Filed Sept. 9, 1966, Ser. No. 578,319

Int. Cl. A63b 23/04 U.S. Cl. 272-70 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE For use by one in a stand-up ambulatory manner, a maneuverable balancing and exercising device comprising a horizontally elongated teetering board. The respective outer ends of the board are provided with integral crossheads which provide footrests. A foot strap is secured to the median portion of each footrest and unique surface engaging oblique angled rockers are affixed to the underneath side of each footrest. The user can ambulate forwardly, backwardly, can hop, rock and teeter from side to side and swing about in a circular path in an amusing manner in keeping with his skill and capability.

The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in an occupant amusing, balancing and exercising device wherein the occupant, for example an unskilled adult, can learn by trial and error to develop the balanced body motions necessary in safely achieving the exercising result desired.

More specifically, the concept has to do with a device wherein the user assumes a standing position, straddles the median or body portion of an elongated platform or board, places his feet flatwise on footrests at the opposite outer end portions of the intervening board and by alternately shifting his weight from the left foot to the right foot and vice versa tilts and rocks the board or platform while, at the same time, balancing and exercising himself in a now generally well-known manner. As the preceding explanation reveals body rocking and exercising devices are old and well-known and for example, the skill and balance developing device shown in a patent to Katz 2,930,613 may be referred to for general background information and, generally speaking, as indicative of the state of the art to which the present improved device is related.

It follows that it is admittedly old in the field of endeavor under advisement to provide a left-to-right rocking beam or board and to equip the same at its terminal ends with skid-resisting footrests. It is also common in the art to provide depending legs or equivalent limit stops which are located inwardly of the outer marginal limits of the footrests in a manner to check the descent of each footrest as the standing occupant alternately shifts his weight from left to right and vice versa to tilt and rock the board or platform.

In carrying out the principles of the present invention several improvements have been devised with a view toward advancing the art. One improvement has to do with the use of T-shaped end portions of a board or main platform wherein the cross-heads thus provided are integral with the ends of the platform or board and have their upper flat surfaces in a common plane with the upper flat surfaces of the board, said cross-heads providing the footrests and said footrests being preferably substantially ovate in plan.

Another improvement has to do with the provision on the median top surfaces of the footrests of foot encircling buckle-equipped adjustable straps which assist in positioning and retaining the respective feet atop the footrests provided therefor.

3,438,626 Patented Apr. 15, 1969 More particularly, novelty is predicated on the provision on the underside of each footrest of a rocker. Each rocker is linearly straight, is positioned at an oblique angle relative to the lengthwise dimension of the footrest for best results. Then, too, novelty is predicated on rockers each of which comprises an elongated block. The block is non-circular in cross-section, has a fiat tread to reside V on the ground or other foundation or surface. Each block is also provided on an outwardly facing side with a chamfered or sloping surface which provides a clearance desired when the standing occupant bodily rocks and tilts the over-all device back and forth to acquire the amusement and body exercising result desired.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a standing occupant balancing and exercising device constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention and readied for use by the occupant (not shown).

FIG. 2 is an enlarged detailed section taken on the plane of the line 22 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 3 is a similar view but taken at right angles on the line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the device.

The main component or unit of the over-all device is of one-piece construction and is made from suitable wood, appropriate rigidified plastic material or whatever material the manufacturer finds to be economically feasible for mass production results. The over-all unit is denoted by the numeral 6 and comprises an elongated rectangular board Which has a flat top side 8, a flat parallel bottom side or surface 10, and straight longitudinal parallel edges 12 and 14. By providing integral cross-heads at the ends of the platform or board the end portions may be described as being substantially T-shaped in plan. More important, each crosshead is disposed at right angles to the lengthwise dimension of the board proper, is substantially ovate in plan and has rounded ends 16, and a. straight outer marginal edge 18 at right angles to the lengthwise dimension of the board 6. It follows that the cross-head thus provides an appropriate footrest which is denoted generally by the numeral 20 and has a flat top surface 22 and a flat bottom surface 24, said surfaces being flush with the surfaces 8 and 10 of the board proper. The median top surface portion of each footrest is provided with a suitable foot encircling buckle-equipped strap 26 whose mid-portion 28 is rigidly secured atop the footrest. The rocking and tilting means for each footrest is the same at each end of the device and the description of one will suffice for both. This means generally speaking comprises a linearly straight elongated block or rocker member which is denoted as an entity by the numeral 30 in FIG. 3. It will be noticed that this block is narrower than the footrest. Also it is provided with a flat top surface 32 which is suitably affixed to the bottom side 24 of the footrest. There is an inward straight edge or surface 34, a relatively narrow bottom or tread surface 36 and a chamfered outer lengthwise bevel or surface 38. The surface 38 provides a desired clearance for appropriate tilting and rocking motions. The anrrow tread 36 provides the fulcruming and rocking action desired. The overall block is oblique and the lengthwise dimension of the footrest and is spaced inwardly of the edge 18. lso the end portions project beyond the rounded ends 16 a brought out in the views of the drawing.

Novelty is predicted on the one-piece adaptation or unit 6 wherein the ovate integrated heads 20 have fiat surfaces 3 22 flush with the surface 8 and with a bottom surface 24 flush with the surface 10 and the combination therewith of the linearly straight elongated oblique angled block members which constitute rockers and more particularly wherein the thus constructed runners or rockers provide the alternate left-to-right tilting and balancing function.

Using the herein disclosed balancing and exercising device the user can take steps forward and backward, also hop forward and backward or sideward, make a right or left quarter circle or half circle, or a whole circle, as may be desired.

- The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An occupant amusing, balancing and exercising device comprising, a horizontally elongated teetering and ambulating board provided at its respective outer occupant supporting ends with integral right angularly disposed cross-heads constituting left and right footrests, said board having a flat top surface and said footrests having corresponding flat top surfaces in a common plane with said first named flat top surfaces and with each other, and a board elevating ground surface engaging rocker afiixed to the underneath side of each footrest, each rootrest being substantially ovate in plan, each rocker comprising an elongated rigid straight block-like member substantially rectangular in cross-section and having a fiat ground engaging tread on its bottom side, a fiat top side parallel with the bottom side and fixed flatwise and at an oblique angle to the underneath flat side of said footrest, and also having a chamfered or outward lengthwise clearance and tilt accommodating surface spaced inwardly from the adjacent outer longitudinal marginal edge of said footrest, whereby an edge portion of the footrest projects beyond and overhangs the said chamfered surface and allows the standing occupant to bodily tilt and rock the over-all device by alternatively switching his body weight from his left leg toward his right leg and vice versa, and a foot encircling and holddown strap carried by and secured atop a median portion of each footrest.

2. An occupant amusing, balancing and exercising device comprising, a horizontally elongated teetering and ambulating board provided at its respective outer occupant supporting ends with integral right angularly disposed cross-heads constituting left and right footrests, said board having a flat top surface and said .footrests having corresponding flat top surfaces in a common plane with said first named flat top surface and with each other, and a board elevating ground surface engaging rocker aflixed to the underneath side of each footrest, said ground engaging rocker comprising an elongated rigid block-like member of a length greater than the length of said footrest and having like end portions projecting beyond the respective ends of said footrest, said block-like member being disposed at an oblique angle relative to the central lengthwise portion of said footrest.

3. The device defined in and according to claim 2, and wherein the outwardly disposed lengthwise marginal edges of said footrests are straight and are positioned at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said board, and wherein said board is substantially rectangular in plan.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,997,715 4/1935 Breen 272- 2,930,613 3/1960 Katz 272-57 2,941,801 6/1960 Pedersen 272-1 3.108,802 10/1963 Sundquist 2721 3.361.427 1/1968 Paves 272-57 ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner. RICHARD W. D'IAZ, JR., Assistant Examiner. 

